What’s Next For The Los Angeles Lakers?

The end is always ugly, but rarely has a team heard the death knell in such a complete fashion as the Lakers did this past week. Expected to easily dispatch of a Dallas team that didn’t seem particularly stronger than past iterations, the Lake Show may have had the curtains called on them instead. The finality of Game 4’s blowout, complete with the petulant acts of childishness from Bynum and Odom, belies this truth: the Lakers as we know it are done winning titles.
The 2011 playoffs mark the end of the Kobe Era. A run of historic dominance and good luck over the last few years, highlighted by the Gasol trade, the Garnett and Perkins injuries, and keeping Ron Artest sane has finally run out. More importantly, the foundation has crumbled with Phil gone and Kobe and Gasol slowing down.
As LA enters its most uncertain era since the pre-Shaq days, the reaction to this stark truth will dictate the franchise’s future. In light of the Lakers’ shocking demise, we take a look at the important pieces in the team’s championship run to assess the damage. Who’s to blame? Who will be around next year? And what will need to happen to allow the team to quickly return to its glory?Derek Fisher — Alongside Phil Jackson’s eminent retirement, Derek Fisher’s decision to hang up his sneakers could be the next largest looming question for the organization. While he still ranks as one of the most clutch Lakers of all time, Fish’s best years are obviously days gone by. Usually, the playoffs become his time, embracing the role of “coach on the floor” and stepping in to knock down big baskets when the team called his number. However during this year’s run, those contributions were limited to either towel-waving support roles or chewing out teammates as Phil Jackson sat perched on a stool during timeouts. Putting it all in perspective, Steve Blake, a relic himself, was pulling off his warmup to enter games more often than Fisher, which speaks louder than any words typed here.
Fisher could depart knowing he really had no active hand in the Lakers’ meltdown. He won’t rank as one of the greatest to wear the purple and gold but he’ll remain a fan favorite, seen as instrumental to the team’s success in recent years. He has a fistful of championship rings – five, in fact – and only five Lakers own as many and for that accomplishment he will be revered. The point guard has the opportunity to retire with the same franchise who drafted him in 1996 and, even in retirement, he won’t have to leave the bench. Taking a seat beside fellow former player turned assistant Brian Shaw on game night’s seems to be the natural progression and a role D. Fish been destined for over the past few seasons.The Front Office – Mitch Kupchak and Jerry Buss are probably second-guessing themselves right now. Earlier this year, the Nuggets were willing to trade Carmelo Anthony to the Lakers for Bynum in what should have been a no-brainer trade. Instead, the front office decided to stick with Bynum, who totally imploded against the Mavs and is now responsible for one of the team’s biggest embarrassments in history. As the Lakers’ future unfolds, the refusal to trade for Anthony might be a decision that is looked back on unfavorably for many years.
The Lakers trades and big decisions used to be handled by the brilliant Jerry West. Now, without his masterminding, L.A. still has to retool and build a new team around Kobe, maybe even convincing him that he’s not the number one man anymore. This won’t be an easy task, especially without teams willing to just hand over their star like Memphis did with Gasol a couple of years ago.Lamar Odom — To be honest, L.O.’s shove of Dirk in the fourth quarter of Game 4 was not anything that warranted an ejection, but it was also understood. Plus, he apologized for it after the game, so no one will remember his final moments of the Mavs series by this time next week. There are plenty of jokes that can be lobbed towards Odom, but the fact remains he is one of the more talented players in the NBA, when he’s focused and wants to be. Add that along with the fact he’s played integral roles in the past two championships and keeping him in LaLa land makes perfect sense.
He’s 6’11” with equal amounts range and vision and, on any given night, can give the Lakers 23 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. Contributions that aren’t exactly a common commodity, even in today’s league. Now, to be fair, he can also easily go for a pedestrian seven points, five rebounds and one assist too, but that’s the gift and the curse that has always been Odom’s career. It’s like dating a girl who wears a lot of make up. When she decides to step out, everyone marvels at her beauty. When she goes all natural, everyone marvels, but for all the wrong reasons.
Kupchak knows all of these things and the entire league does too. So in a sense, Lamar finds himself as a human collective bargaining chip. For any trade the Lakers want to make, it would seem Odom has to be a part of the deal. There’s just no way around it.Andrew Bynum — Take a look at these numbers.2011-2012: $15,157,6672012-2013: $16,473,002
With the second year being a team option, this is what Bynum is owed over the next two seasons. In three years, this could either play out one of two ways for the Lakers often injured, highly coveted and controversial seven footer. Situation A says he puts this season behind him, sheds the injury bug, finally lives up to the billing Jerry Buss has bestowed upon him and averages 20+ and 13 for the next seven or eight years of his career. Situation B is something that’s been discussed around here for awhile now, but seems to have really picked up traction given recent events: a possible trade for Dwight Howard.

Bynum’s cheap foul on JJ Barea was just that, cheap. Sure, he was frustrated, that’s understandable. But given how we all saw Rajon Rondo’s elbow bend in ways elbows are not supposed to bend, many likely thought the same was about to happen to the Mavs point guard as he crashed to the floor. And to make matters worse, Bynum never really said he regretted it when asked about it after the game. Some believe the ill-advised elbow will stain Andrew’s image going forward, but it will ultimately serve as a blip on the radar, especially if he has a new start in Orlando. For the Lakers (pending the parameters of the potential deal are to their liking), giving away Bynum for Howard is almost a cakewalk of a decision.
While their shot volume is different, people lose their minds when Bynum has games of 18 and 10. Howard can get that in one half. And he doesn’t get injured. He’s a freak athletically while Bynum’s knees seem to be built with the paper that covers straws from fast food restaurants. StayDwight.com better get on their job because this has Shaq 2.0 written all over it.Phil Jackson — Against Dallas, Jackson was clearly incapable of solving whatever was bothering the team and he failed to come up with a way to stymie Dirk Nowitzki or develop any sort of defensive scheme. Phil’s used some sort of Zen because he’s probably going to leave this whole situation largely unscathed, especially since this is his first sweep in 65 playoff series. The coach goes off into the sunset as one of, if not the greatest coach in North American sports, with an undeniable pedigree. He might return to coach another team – the Heat if they struggle for a couple of years or the Knicks – but this is probably the end of an undeniably great career.Pau Gasol — If the finger should be pointed at one person for the Lakers’ demise, it has to be pointed at Pau Gasol, who’s playoff performance was reminiscent of an MVP that just found out his teammate banged his mom. Gasol looked flustered, uninspired and timid, even in the first round where Okafur bullied him around the paint. Let’s not forget that the Lakers were up one point in the waning seconds of game 1 when Gasol committed an insanely dumb foul on Nowitzki that put the Mavs up for good. Two years ago, when the Lakers got bullied by the Celtics, the main culprit was said to be the big guy’s softness. Now, Pau has an even bigger cloud of b*tch hovering over him than before, which will undoubtedly be nearly impossible to shake off.
Rumors have been swirling about Pau’s recent break-up off the court, but that’s no excuse for his soft play. For someone who entered this year’s playoffs as untouchable, Gasol’s future with the Lakers isn’t as set in stone as it once was.Kobe Bryant — A lot of the Lakers’ downfall has to fall on Kobe’s shoulders. In Games One and Three, the Lakers were primed to win, relying on KB24 to carry out the wins that were definitely in reach. This is probably hard for you diehard Kobe stans to hear, but he had a lot to do with choking those games away. More important than the immediate impact of the sweep will come when people start to objectively look at Bryant’s stance as an all-time great. Three of his last four elimination games have been grand disappointments: yesterday’s terrible performance against Dallas, the atrocious game 7 against Boston last year, getting pounced by those same Celts in 2008 and basically tanking the last game against the Suns in 2006.
As we pull back from the mystique of Black Mamba and look at the facts, the sweep against the Mavs may be the final nail in the Kobe/Jordan comparison’s coffin. Performance? Jordan has countless defining playoff moments, where he won games seemingly by his own force of will – the Flu game, The Shot, his first half against the Blazers in ’92, etc. Can anyone recall Kobe’s last defining playoff moment? Last year, the debate was where Kobe stood as one of the greatest of all time. This year’s performance did some serious damage to that legacy.
Moving forward, Kobe can definitely score a couple of more rings if the Lakers grab Dwight Howard, but his chances are numbered if that role encompasses him being the head honcho, leading his team to a championship. He’s at a stage in his career when some serious help is necessary.

Very well written. Great article. Hello Dwight!!! Bye Bye Bynum and Odom and Pau probably one of them gotta go…

By: 500K Flea

05.09.2011 @ 12:50 PM

Predicting their demise a little prematurely don’t ya think? As much as I loathe the Lakers, I’m pretty sure that their management isn’t going to sit idly by and let the younger teams surpass them.

By: Johnny

05.09.2011 @ 12:52 PM

Trade Bynum for either Dwight, CP3, Amare. Send some bench guys (Brown, Blake, Walton, anyone not named Lamar Odom) or even Artest with Bynum and possibly get Jameer if possible. Try to distance the team from Bynum as much as possible for that disgrace of a foul against Barea. If you can’t get a PG in a trade with either Dwight or Amare then sign Aaron Brooks. Resign Matt Barnes. Fish becomes Shaw’s assistant coach. Pau will bounce back so that should be the least of worries.

Kobe haters will say the Jordan comparison stops now, but Jordan had less years of experience and an entire season of rest to lead his team. Jordan won his 6th ring in 1998 and was 35 but only had 13 seasons in the NBA. Kobe in turning 33 with 15 seasons in the NBA and no retirement break. Jordan is the best player of all time, but Kobe haters will always downplay how good he really is and how close he actually stacks up compared to MJ.

By: J. Tinsley

05.09.2011 @ 12:54 PM

If the Lakers can somehow trade for Howard AND manage to keep Odom, that will be pretty fucking amazing.

By: Johnny

05.09.2011 @ 1:00 PM

I think its possible they can keep Odom. Otis Smith doesn’t exactly have leverage for the trade. He needs to put bodies in that new arena and Dwight is certainly leaving. Just by offering Bynum thats more than any other team will be willing to offer without blowing up the entire team. 5 nickels dont equal a quarter in the NBA and Bynum is probably the best single player Smith will be able to acquire unless the Knicks send Amare over to Orlando.

By: J. Tinsley

05.09.2011 @ 1:14 PM

Very true, but this new CBA will dictate a lot too. Check these numbers. Over the next three years,

Kobe will make $82M
Pau will make $56M
Bynum’s #’s are up top
Odom will make $17M (his contract is up in two years)

And you know D12 will demand a max contract. I know I’m playing armchair GM right now, but it will all depend on how LA can maneuver the contracts. Given LA’s history though, they’ll somehow get it right.

Then again, all this could be for shits and giggles if D12 shoots all of these rumors down.

By: thecool11o3

05.09.2011 @ 1:17 PM

*ahem, steps on soapbox*

Kobe is Kobe. Michael Jordan is Michael Jordan.

I remember when they tried comparing Lebron & Carmelo to MJ when they arrived on the scene. Let them live their OWN legacy!

Kobe is Kobe. Michael Jordan is Michael Jordan.

*steps off soapbox*

By: Young Juiceman

05.09.2011 @ 1:27 PM

I don’t get the bash on Bynum. Since the all-star break he’s been the best player for the Lakers. Unless they get a CP3 or a Dwight (I think CP3 would be the better option since he’s a better pg than D. Fish (2x), Smush Parker, Nick Van Exel, Steve Blake and whoever else handled the ball not name Magic combined) I don’t think it’s necessary to move Bynum.

Honestly, if Pau Gasol was Marc Gasol (ie./ if Pau wasn’t a bitch) they would be good for next year.

and Jordan and Kobe in the same sentence still? Let me know what stat line does Kobe > Jordan ever/can/will happen.

that was my unbiased observation…

otherwise, FUCK KOBE, FUCK PAU, and FUCK THE LAKERS AS A STAFF LABEL AND TEAM.

By: Chris Cool

05.09.2011 @ 1:30 PM

Gasol, fisher, and ron artest. Those are the problems. Im one of the few I know who would keep bynum over howard. That nigga played his ass off. He only 23 and this extra time off should benefit his knee. I could see it only going up from here for him. That was a cheap shot at the end, but I understand where he coming from. He workefd hard, dtayed injury free for the first time and thats how they gone play?

By: AmpGeez a.k.a Smoke Greene

05.09.2011 @ 1:36 PM

Howard doesn’t guarantee a chip.

Especially not if Brian Shaw takes over as head coach.

By: AmpGeez a.k.a Smoke Greene

05.09.2011 @ 1:38 PM

I don’t see Artest as a problem…as long as the team is competing.

When Ron Ron starts losing, he’s more likely to bug out.

By: Double Clutch

05.09.2011 @ 1:46 PM

Well first off about the Kobe>MJ comparisons. I’m now convinced the 40 year old Wizards Jordan > 33 old current Kobe. There will be no more Kobe might be better than MJ talk.

About the article I’m thinking what LA has to do to compete with the rest of the league thats getting better/younger. They need Dwight or CP3 to even think about competing. God forbid they both go somewhere else, LA has no chance. I think the whole team chemistry is all wrong so they need to break the team up no matter what. Plus, they have so many pieces any team would want they can make some good trade.

Keep Bynum and get a real PG and some better bench players is my advice

By: Willie P

05.09.2011 @ 1:56 PM

Expected to easily dispatch of a Dallas team that didn’t seem particularly stronger than past iterations. . .
—————————————————
Lol.

If you can’t get a PG in a trade with either Dwight or Amare then sign Aaron Brooks. Resign Matt Barnes. Fish becomes Shaw’s assistant coach. Pau will bounce back so that should be the least of worries.
————————————————————–
I like this idea, but I would think they can get Jameer in a trade with Orlando. There might have to be a third team involved, though I can’t think of a team with enough pieces to trade in a three-way deal. OR…perhaps somebody gets in touch with Golden State and add Monta or Steph in the deal. They’re not gonna be able to coexist for too much longer, I don’t think. But the trade that looms is clearly a Bynum (got-DAYUM how did he get 15 and 16 mil outta Jerry Buss?) for D-12 swap. And Lamar would have to be in that trade somehow. So I’d propose this:

I’m hearing talk of the CBA bringing the Franchise Player tag to the NBA.

Howard may not be going anywhere.

*Thanks Dolan The Knicks got Melo when we did*

By: P.S.A

05.09.2011 @ 2:39 PM

yo, is Orlando’s GM out of his mind?!?!/

why trade Dwight?

what exactly does L.A have to give up? everything AND the kitchen sink?

I just don’t see how Orlando would benefit from trading Dwight. Just sounds asinine to me.

but hey, thats why I watch the games…and not a GM.

By: McFearless King Leo

05.09.2011 @ 2:41 PM

Lakers need and have needed a PG. After Aaron Brooks had a coming out party on their arse I said it’d be a matter of time before it came back to bite them. JJ got in the paint AT will. Russ did the same thing to them last yr. They’re slow at crucial positions.

Thing is they have to hope some team is going to want what they have to offer, which really is only Bynum. Odom (over 30) and Pau (just played himself out of leverage) are the only ones that can be pointed to and if I’m a GM I’m staying away from both. They won’t have a good draft pick and they’re over the luxury tax. I don’t see Orlando trading D12 to LA for Bynum. MAYBE they could swing a CP for Bynum trade but then they’re left with the gaping hole at C. And this all without knowing who the next coach is.

I can honestly say this is the only time I’ve ever felt bad for Kobe…his team let him down. Though the one thing I don’t get is how Bynum got called out for saying the team had trust issues but Kobe didn’t for calling out Pau. I actually think that hurt more them/him more than anything.

By: A REAL HIPHOPPER

05.09.2011 @ 2:50 PM

Come on! Kobe can’t be blamed for the whole team sucking. Kobe is a great player, But the problem with him is that he’s playing two positions Shooting guard and Power Forward. He’s not good at both like Michael Jordan was. Kobe need to pick one position and stick with it.

By: S. Cadet

05.09.2011 @ 3:04 PM

I’d say they need to address their bench and improve their presence inside before going for a top point guard. The triangle, as history suggests, works well with star shooting guards/forwards and alright point guards. Granted, the point has to fit in the system and know his place. For instance, Smush Parker didn’t adjust to it even though LA wasn’t good then but I digress. The point doesn’t need to be a marquee player to make it work. John Paxson, BJ Armstrong, Ron Harper, and Derek Fisher weren’t top tier players. They still knew their roles and played accordingly to get chips. Then again, we haven’t seen a triangle offense win a ring with a star guard anyway so it’s not like it can’t happen.

LA needs to make changes either way and get some youth. It’ll be tough to do in this year’s off season.

All this Dwight going to LA sounds familiar… Too much like LBJ going to the Knicks. Unlike Carmelo, he has not even sort of hinted that he is either thinking LA or somewhere else. This sort of premature assumptions is what got Knicks/Nets fans feelings hurt.

By the summer of 2012, the attractiveness of starting over with a with a 34-35 year old Kobe will not be as appealing as everybody’s assuming. And I disagree with Johnny that Otis won’t have any leverage, the various team offers will be leverage enough and please remember, you’re talking about trading a franchise player for someone who has yet to complete 1 full season. Where they do that at?

He’d be better off starting new with a fresh team that will be centered around him. Brooklyn, anyone?

By: Chris Cool

05.09.2011 @ 3:51 PM

He’s said that he wants to play with kobe. And to dude who said 40 year old mike > kobe nigga did u even watch the series?

By: J. Tinsley

05.09.2011 @ 3:51 PM

who’s playoff performance was reminiscent of an MVP that just found out his teammate banged his mom.

==================

ALLEGEDLY!!

By: J. Tinsley

05.09.2011 @ 3:56 PM

He’d be better off starting new with a fresh team that will be centered around him. Brooklyn, anyone?

=========================

When I said Dwight to LA months ago, I was really saying it to hear how it sounded. But as the months passed by, I began to believe it more and more. I’m not saying it will happen. It just makes sense.

But wouldn’t the team be centered around him if he went to LA too? Put Kobe’s ego/will-to-win aside, but it would be like the Shaq and Kobe situation all over again, only this time Kobe would be older and he could easily defer to Dwight to tire the defense and let him get his 30/15/4 a game. I mean, Kobe is getting old, but it’s not like he is going to average only 15 a game next year. He’s still a top 10 player.

Yeah but that would only be good for how long? You’re asking someone to start over with a declining superstar that is depleting year by year AND is on his way out.

If I had the option to either go to LA and build w/ Kobe for a yr or two and then be back at square 1 or go the NY and build around him and Deron Williams and possibly have that be my career home, I choose the latter and don’t look back.

When did he say that? And I’m not talking about some mystery source. I’m talking about a video or quote. He’s been real tight lipped about the whole thing.

By: AmpGeez a.k.a Smoke Greene

05.09.2011 @ 4:19 PM

I just don’t see how Orlando would benefit from trading Dwight. Just sounds asinine to me.
^^^^

They’d rather trade him then let him walk away and get nothing back ala The Cavaliers.

By: Chris Cool

05.09.2011 @ 5:32 PM

It was during all star weekend. Imma find it when I get off of work.

By: Double Clutch

05.09.2011 @ 6:03 PM

Lakers should go for Stephen Curry and then all their problems solved.

By: andrew

05.09.2011 @ 6:20 PM

yeah but no one noticed when barea gave the elbow to blake… he’s a little wimpy pulga who got what was coming to him… “all in the game.”

By: ATI

05.09.2011 @ 6:26 PM

Nice write-up, *hopes the Lakers will spiral into mediocrity for the next several years*.

By: GameOver

05.09.2011 @ 6:44 PM

lol this article, albeit well written, is so over the top at points. The Lakers window is NOT closed, are you shitting me? Lakeshow is going to be RIGHT back at it next season and after they address several issues (head coach, PG, athleticism, and another guy off the bench who can penetrate), all of which are NOT major issues and can easily be taken care of, this off season. Take into account there may be an extended lockout, and the fact that the Lakers core will be intact only does them favors. A lot of Laker fans (and others in general) are really over blowing the sweep to Dallas. In hindsight, it is a lot easier to see that this Laker team did not have it however behind my purple/gold shades it becomes denser and thicker and more difficult to envision. We fucked up the final minutes of two games (thats on Kobe, but lets give some credit to Dirk & the Mavs for the flawless execution, I mean God damn) and got manhandled in one (game 4) and taken care of in the other (game 2). The Lakers did not play great basketball as we’ve all come to expect from them over the past few years. The lackluster effort and seriously, just no heart from this team at times, was very visible (especially to someone whose seen as much Laker basketball as I have). They sound like excuses but they shouldn’t be, Dallas whooped Laker ass, as simple as that.

I would not be surprised to see NO major moves done outside of improving the bench and PG spot. This was a team that went to the Finals 3 straight times. How many teams in the HISTORY of the NBA have made the Finals 4 straight times, especially when you consider the core of this team has been the EXACT same (outside of Artest/Ariza) for the past few years. Then tell me how many teams have done it in the past 3 decades. It is a difficult task and one that the Lakers failed to accomplish. It was disgraceful the way LO/Bynum went out against Dallas, HOWEVER, understandable. Here you are down 30+ about to get swept, last game for your HoF head coach, and you’ve got the smallest kid on the court coming off the bench getting lay ups in the paint. I can understand Drew’s frustration, not defending his action, still unnecessary. But, I get it. He can ponder over it during his suspension at the start of next season.

You’ll see the Lakeshow once again next year, with the front office fixing the few problems we have, a new coach to get the guys going, a brand new chip on our shoulder and fresh motivation…they’ll be at the top sooner rather than later. Until then, good luck to the teams still in it.

By: Karlito

05.09.2011 @ 7:36 PM

I know all the haters are happy today. Lakers will be back. They might trade Pau and or Bynum get Dwight and a fast PG. No matter what happens the Lakers won’t be terrible for long. Sorry to rain on y’all parade.

By: Doc

05.09.2011 @ 7:59 PM

Its funny Bynum is younger, taller, heavier and scored half as many points on half as many shots, but the lakers, the team thats played in 31 of the NBA’s 60 championship series, will engineer the swap and reinvent themselves just like they did after the West/Baylor era, the Wilt era, the magic/kareem era, the Shaq/Kobe era and now the Kobe/Pau era.

Bynum would be a star on 25 of the NBA teams, but for L.A. hes close but no cigar. Thanks for playing collect your prize on the way out. You don’t prove you are tough by decking a guy only slightly bigger than a lawn jockey. If Bynum wasn’t gone after the “trust” remarks, yesterdays embarassment put him on the launching ramp. Question is, how much did yesterday effect his trade value?

Lakers need Howard, a fast athletic guard, a few guys that can shoot 3’s and a few guys from this years team. Odum, Brown, and maybe Pao if they can find his man parts. (I also like Ebanks and Caracter). Role players, young, tough, hungry guys that will do, and enjoy doing the things nobody on this years team would do.

Don’t cry for L.A. Argentina……..they’ll be back sooner than you imagine.

By: Doc

05.09.2011 @ 8:02 PM

Sorry. I wrote this and it got deleted. In its second version I omitted Howards name as the comparison to Bynum. Pretty sure the serious fans would guess that.

By: P.S.A

05.09.2011 @ 9:24 PM

They’d rather trade him then let him walk away and get nothing back ala The Cavaliers.

^^^^^^

oh shit…is it a given that Dwight will NOT re-sign with Orlando then?

pardon my ignorance…if that’s the case…then yeah, cant think off top of the head which team would be able to exceed L.A in terms of trade value…L.A has the pieces to trade and STILL remain a contender (in the WEST, whether you are a #1 or a #8 seed, you are a contender)

I gotta admit, it would be cool to be spoiled like Lakers fans and just assume that the Magic will bend over and hand Dwight to LA for Bynum, Odom/Gasol, Shannon Brown, and picks. Otis Smith may be in over his head, but I guarantee that if – IF – Dwight says he wants out, which he has not even hinted at as of this point, Otis will automatically staple Hedo Turkoglu’s contract to him. There will be teams jumping over each other to offer younger players, better expiring contracts and higher draft picks than the Lakers will ever be able to offer.

Is it out of the realm of possibility that the Lakers could rope a third team into the deal and help sweeten the deal for Orlando? Of course not. But the Magic aren’t so destitute and ravaged that they can’t convince Dwight to stay. He has 6 charities in the Orlando area and he enjoys having no luxury tax. Plus, the Magic have an owner who is committed to spending (See: The Magic’s payroll). Of course, Orlando will have to figure something out, and that could start with signing Nene as a free agent and shipping Brandon Bass, Ryan Anderson, Earl Clark and/or JJ Redick out for new pieces, as well as finally welcoming Fran Vasquez over from Spain.

Additionally, Gilbert Arenas is restructuring his contract to double the years and halve the annual pay, which sucks when it comes to the realization that we’ll have Gil in Orlando for 5 more years, but coupled with Jason Richardson’s free agency departure, it means money to play with. The free agent pool is shallow and ugly, but trades can be made, especially if the Magic can convince New Orleans to ship Chris Paul (while absorbing Emeka Okafor’s contract) in a deal like the Knicks made.

But Lakers fans should be looking more intently at CP3, as the league owns the Hornets and it would be a lot more realistic that David Stern would lay his seal of approval on that deal. Also, Stern told the Magic to build their new arena, and the team did so with Dwight as the centerpiece. Rich DeVos will not let him go very easily.

All that and there probably won’t be a season next year, so speculation is what it is.

Good write up & I agree while there are some changes that need be made a lot of the media is making it way more over the top then it actually is! Not to mention Lakers management should more then likely get it handled like they do 99.9% of the time! Also I would like to make the mention that anyone who thought the Lakers would manhandle the Mavs is kidding themselves & I think it’s less accurate of what a lot of the actual media was thinking! I think most realistic Lakers fans like myself as well as most the media actually seen this going 6 games though it obviously didn’t!